There are many times in life when one must consider non-ideal conditions, especially in engineering and scientific research. While the academic world has made significant progress in theoretical studies for processing multidimensional signals using traditional methods, there remains a vast field of potential applications for future innovators.

Dr. Zhou Rui is currently a research scientist at Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data. His main research areas include statistical signal processing and optimization algorithms, with a focus on electromagnetic big data research projects. He leverages distributed signal reception to improve the performance of related applications, such as electromagnetic signal detection and tracking. Dr. Zhou leads the National Natural Science Foundation's Youth Project and the Shenzhen Excellent Innovative Talent Training (PhD Start-up) project and is also involved in the National Key Research and Development Program.

Dr. Zhou believes that while the academic world has relatively perfected traditional methods and theories for processing multidimensional signals, such methods can still serve as benchmarks to assess performance losses of engineering solutions compared to theoretically optimal methods. However, there are some practical issues, such as when research scenarios don’t align with real-world conditions or fail to consider real-world constraints. This means that methods in existing papers only work in ideal situations, and in some aspects (such as computation and communication), the high overhead prevents practical implementation. As a result, Dr. Zhou is more focused on the application of electromagnetic big data to improve the efficiency of electromagnetic resource allocation and management, ensuring the stability of wireless communication systems in complex electromagnetic environments.

By combining cross-disciplinary optimization algorithms with the processing of electromagnetic statistical signals, Dr. Zhou has mastered techniques to solve key challenges. He mentioned that his initial foray into big data was due to his PhD advisor’s guidance. "When I started my PhD, I had no prior knowledge in this area and didn’t know what research direction I was interested in. My advisor assigned me a research topic, and I began exploring on my own."

After joining the Big Data Institute in Shenzhen, Dr. Zhou dedicated himself to research in the information systems field. "I found that the methods related to data modeling and optimization algorithms I had previously learned could be directly applied to electromagnetic big data with slight adjustments, which I found fascinating."

Dr. Zhou mentioned that one challenge in the field of electromagnetic big data is dealing with the complexity and abundance of electromagnetic signals in space. Identifying weak electromagnetic signals of interest in such a noisy environment is very difficult. Traditional single-node methods are akin to having only one person listening, which yields poor results. To address this, Dr. Zhou and his team developed a new method that uses multiple receiving nodes to capture signals. By combining signal processing and optimization techniques, they significantly improve the probability of making accurate judgments. Many such challenges exist in the field of electromagnetic big data, often arising from the non-ideal situations encountered in engineering. For example, when the electromagnetic signal source is in motion, the actual received signal is more complex than the theoretical model predicts. Additionally, bandwidth considerations must be accounted for during signal fusion. Dr. Zhou’s team has already proposed solutions to these issues and achieved promising preliminary simulation results.

Dr. Zhou believes that non-ideal conditions are the norm in scientific research. In the face of such challenges, he advocates for patience, constant adjustments, and gradually overcoming difficulties. It’s also important to find balance and maintain positive feedback loops between research and life. Outside of his research, Dr. Zhou leads a regular life, enjoying activities such as exercising, watching movies, and taking care of his cat. He also enjoys hiking occasionally.

Since joining the Institute in July 2021, Dr. Zhou has been impressed by the sense of unity in the team. "I was particularly struck by how we all came together to apply for national projects in the Information Systems Laboratory. Everyone was united, supportive, and very efficient. During my PhD, I mostly explored research on my own, so working in this team-based environment at the Big Data Institute gave me a strong sense of collective effort, and the team’s execution was highly effective."

For students who are about to enter the research field, he advises them to cherish and enjoy the period when they can fully immerse themselves in reading, learning, and conducting research. He also suggests establishing a positive feedback loop and, if possible, maintaining a regular exercise routine while keeping an eye on their hair health.

Looking ahead, Dr. Zhou and his team will continue to advance research in electromagnetic big data, contributing to the diversification and intelligent development of wireless communication technologies.